KABALE, UGANDA — As the world prepares to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, innovators in Uganda are raising urgent concerns over the rampant theft of their ideas, particularly in educational institutions and tech exhibitions. They are calling on the government to enhance intellectual property protections to safeguard their creations.

At a recent workshop hosted at Kabale University, young inventors expressed frustration about their inventions being hijacked before they even have a chance to patent them. Blair Nkuba, Director of Thoraxa Technologies, highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by emerging tech minds, stressing that the lack of legal knowledge and resources leaves them exposed to exploitation.

Amid escalating concerns, Kabale University has taken proactive measures; Deputy Vice Chancellor Johnny Mugisha revealed that some projects are no longer showcased due to fears of intellectual property theft.

To address these challenges, the newly launched ICT-IP Guidelines aim to provide Ugandan innovators with tools to better protect, develop, and commercialize their technologies. Japan’s International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is lending support to this initiative, even exploring potential job opportunities in Japan for Ugandan engineers.

This call to action comes just before World Intellectual Property Day, a time dedicated to celebrating creators and acknowledging the importance of protecting the innovative ideas that shape our future. The day serves as a reminder of how intellectual property rights—such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and copyright—play crucial roles in fostering creativity and technological advancement.